Union University athletics - academic, All-GSC baseball award, women's basketball adds 2 transfers

Union University athletics – academic, All-GSC baseball award, women’s basketball adds 2 transfers

Former Dyersburg standout, Thompson, returning to west Tennessee to play at Union

Samariah Thompson of Dyersburg, Tennessee has signed with Union University women’s basketball, returning to west Tennessee to complete her college basketball career. Thompson, a transfer from Rogers State University, will enter Union this fall with two years of eligibility remaining.

Union head coach Mark Campbell said, “We are very excited to have ‘Bug’ back in west Tennessee. She is extremely athletic and will help us on both ends of the floor. She is a physical guard that is a playmaker. I’m looking forward to watching her create for everybody on our team!”

Thompson, a 5-foot-6 guard, spent the last two seasons playing at Rogers State University, an NCAA D2 school in Oklahoma. Thompson led the Hillcats in scoring with 15.6 points per game as a junior. She also averaged four rebounds and four assists per game. Thompson hit 23 three-pointers, second on the team, and was tops on the team hitting 103-of-132 free throws (.780). As a sophomore, she was second on the team with 8.7 points per game with three rebounds and two assists per game, while hitting 19 three-pointers. Thompson spent her freshman season at Martin Methodist College where she averaged seven points, two rebounds, and two assists per game.

Thompson prepped at Dyersburg High School where she helped lead her team to one of the best seasons in program history. As a senior, Thompson led DHS to a 24-8 record and an 8-2 district record. It was the second straight season with 20-plus wins for Dyersburg.

Union’s Lucas named CoSIDA Academic All-District

Union University women’s basketball sophomore Shanique Lucas was named CoSIDA Academic All-District. The 2020-21 Academic All-District Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes basketball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA.

Lucas, a 5-foot-8 guard from Papua New Guinea, led Union with 18.4 points per game. She shot .476 from the field, hit 37 3-pointers, averaged 5.8 rebounds per game, and four assists per game. She was named GSC Player of the week twice, first team All-GSC, GSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, GSC All-Tournament, and Academic All-GSC. Shanique passed the 500-career points milestone this season as well.

Lucas helped lead Union to the GSC West Regular Season Title and the GSC Tournament Title. Union advanced to the NCAA D2 Region Semifinals with a 19-6 overall record.

Union women’s basketball adds transfer Baker to fall roster

The Union University women’s basketball program has signed Ashtyn Baker, a transfer from Liberty University, to play her final season in 2021-22. Baker will enter Union as a graduate student this fall, working on a master’s degree in business administration.

Union head coach Mark Campbell said, “We are very excited to have Ashtyn here at Union. I love who she is inside and out. She will have an immediate impact on this team as a player, as a leader and as a teammate. When I think of Ashtyn, I think of Influence and Impact! She will make everyone around her better! I am thankful to coach someone that represents who we are here at Union!”

Baker transferred to Union from Liberty University where she played four years of basketball. She helped lead her team to the 2018 Big South title. Baker was named Big South Freshman of the Year and Big South All-Tournament in 2018. She earned Atlantic Sun Conference All-Conference and All-Tournament honors in 2021. Baker averaged 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game as a senior. She was second on the team in scoring. Baker was named ASUN All-Academic in 2020 and 2021.

Baker prepped at Northpoint Christian School where she played basketball and ran track and field. She was named TSSAA Miss Basketball in 2017, won two D2 state titles, and was named state tournament MVP in 2017. She averaged 16.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 5.3 steals as a senior. Baker scored 1,963 points in her career. She was ranked in the top-50 by ESPNW HoopGurlz in 2017. Baker also placed sixth in the 100 and seventh in the pentathlon at the state track and field championships as a senior.

Union’s Zeitler named to All-GSC baseball squad

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Gulf South Conference announced the 2021 GSC Baseball Postseason Awards Wednesday. Union University’s Austin Zeitler was named second-team All-GSC.

Zeitler, a 6-foot senior outfielder from Canton, Georgia, put together a solid senior season for the Bulldogs. Zeitler started all 36 games for Union in centerfield. He posted a .305 average (40-131) with 35 runs, 17 doubles, a triple, three home runs, and 37 RBI. His 37 RBI and 17 doubles were both team highs. He walked 12 times and was hit by a pitch a team-high 18 times. Zeitler was 9-of-11 in stolen bases. He posted a .519 slugging percentage and a .432 on-base percentage.

In his two seasons at Union, Zeitler posted a .290 average with 22 doubles, four home runs, and 54 RBI.

Union finished the season 15-21 overall and 13-20 in league play, narrowly missing the 2021 GSC Tournament field.